Mass Breakout

September 2, 1985

CORK, IRELAND — About 70 prisoners broke out of ''Ireland's Alcatraz'' Sunday after setting fire to dormitories. After running battles with police and military reinforcements, all surrendered. Government authorities said no concessions were made. There were no injuries in the uprising, but fire destroyed about two-thirds of the prison, which is on Spike Island in Cork Harbor, a mile from the southern Irish coast. About 12 families live on the square-mile island, but they were not injured or threatened by the prisoners. Spike Island Prison was reopened earlier this year to handle those convicted of such crimes as car thefts and drug dealing.